Cal State Fullerton gave up a four-run lead late in the game to fall to Oregon State, 6-5, in game one of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. The Titans return to the ballpark Monday, June 19 at 11:00 am (PT) and will face the loser of the Florida State-LSU matchup in an elimination game.

The Titans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a Timmy Richards three-run home run. Scott Hurst was walked to open the game and advanced to second off a Sahid Valenzuela sacrifice bunt. Dillon Persinger was hit by a pitch before Richards brought Hurst and Persinger home with a bomb to center field. It was just the fourth home run of the year off of Thompson and the first Titan home run in Omaha since Christian Colon's solo shot on June 15, 2009 against Virginia.

The Beavers chipped away at the Titans’ lead in the second inning. Michael Getler doubled and a sacrifice bunt by Cadyn Grenier advanced him to third. Steve Kwan drove in Getler to put Oregon State on the board, but still trailing Cal State Fullerton 3-1.

In the fourth inning, a 2-RBI single to left field by Chris Hudgins in the fourth extended the Titan’s lead to 5-1 and ended Beaver pitcher Jake Thompson’s time on the mound. Thompson, who entered today’s game with a 1.52 ERA, pitched 3.2 innings, allowed three hits and five runs while walking three and striking out just one. The five runs scored by the Titans were the most Thompson has surrendered all year.

Fullerton pitcher Connor Seabold (5.0IP, 6H, 1R, 1BB, 2K) was pulled after the fifth inning having already thrown 97 pitches and Colton Eastman came in for relief but seemed to struggle from the start. Eastman walked three of the first four batters he faced to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Nick Madrigal drove in Getler for his second run of the game. Eastman would walk another batter to load the bases again and was pulled after going 2-0 against the next batter. Blake Workman would replace Eastman to close out the sixth inning, but not before giving up two singles that would award the Beavers three more runs to even the score at 5-5.

Two innings later Oregon State’s Adley Rutschman would drive in the go ahead run. The eighth started to look like a 1-2-3 inning for Workman with the first two batters flying out to center field. Trevor Lamach was able to knock a single up the middle before hit by a pitch advanced him to second, allowing Rutschman to send him home of a single.

Taking a one-run lead into the ninth, the Beavers brought in closer Drew Rasmussen and his 0.89 ERA to shutdown the Titans. And he did just that as he retired the side of the order to clinch the victory.

Jake Mulholland (4.1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 3K) was credit with the win and Blake Workman (2.1IP, 5H, 1R, 0BB, 2K) was issued the loss. Rasmussen earned the save.
Fullerton is now 0-2 at the College World Series against Oregon State. Both games have been 1-run losses in the CWS opener (2007 and 2017).

71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, the rest is covered by Scott Hurst.